Her mother sought out an excellent match for her, and even brought the gentleman to lay his heart and fortune at her feet; but Esther had the audacity to refuse the noble gifts.

He was a man of good family and large possessions, but the naughty girl maintained he was old as Adam, ugly as sin, and hateful as--one who shall be nameless.
'But, indeed, I had a hard time of it,' said she: 'mamma was very greatly disappointed at the failure of her darling project, and very, very angry at my obstinate resistance to her will, and is so still; but I can't help it.

And Walter, too, is so seriously displeased at my perversity and absurd caprice, as he calls it, that I fear he will never forgive me--I did not think he could be so unkind as he has lately shown himself.

But Milicent begged me not to yield, and I'm sure, Mrs.Huntingdon, if you had seen the man they wanted to palm upon me, you would have advised me not to take him too.' 'I should have done so whether I had seen him or not,' said I; 'it is enough that you dislike him.' 'I knew you would say so; though mamma affirmed you would be quite shocked at my undutiful conduct.

You can't imagine how she lectures me: I am disobedient and ungrateful; I am thwarting her wishes, wronging my brother, and making myself a burden on her hands.